Actor Koo Kyo-hwan and Director Yi Ok-seop Confirmed Married Since 2022

Korean actor Koo Kyo-hwan and film director Yi Ok-seop registered their marriage four years ago, his agency confirmed, with news only becoming publicl this week.

Namoo Actors said in an official statement on Oct. 1 that the two "have trusted and leaned on each other as partners for a long time, and registered their marriage in 2022 to become husband and wife."

The agency added that the couple "remain by each other's side as their closest colleagues and family." It asked for "warm blessings and support for the road ahead of two people who have always been a steady source of strength for one another," adding that both Koo and Yi will continue to work to meet audiences through strong projects in their respective fields.

The two first met in 2013 as alumni of Seoul Institute of the Arts and quietly began a relationship from there. They publicly confirmed their romance in 2020 and registered their marriage two years later, in 2022, without a public announcement at the time.

The couple did not hold a wedding ceremony after registering their marriage, and no ceremony is currently planned, according to the agency.

Beyond their personal relationship, Koo and Yi have become one of Korean independent cinema's more distinctive creative pairings. They have collaborated on films including "A Dangerous Woman" (4Hakneyon Bogyeongi), "Yeonaedakyu," "Fly to the Sky," and "Maggie." They also run a joint production company, 2X9HD.

Koo is currently on screen in the film "Buhwalnam: The Red," which opened on Sept. 30. He stars in the lead role of Seok-hwan.